Public Safety drone sales expected to double by 2019
As UAS technology gets cheaper, state and local governments are taking notice when it comes to public-safety drones as a means to save money, replacing manned aerial projects. Specifically, police, fire, and rescue agencies are taking flight to save lives in the field, and fresh research says that sector will fly even higher going forward. A new study by the Ohio-based Freedonia Group projects safety/security drones sales (excluding military purchases) will double by 2019, ascending to $250 million over current sales estimates of $90 million.
Key findings in the safety & security drones study announce that the majority of drones being used for safety and security applications are those developed for the commercial market. Strict regulations and high costs have limited the adoption of commercial drones compared to the established military segment and the quickly expanding consumer segment. However, the rapid development of commercial technologies, rising awareness of integrating drones into existing security systems, and services to provide actionable intelligence will lead to explosive growth. Further growth is seen in the increased interest in analytic & autonomous technology. It is expected that the evolving regulatory environment will also shape growth of safety and security drone sales. In August 2016, in the USA, the FAA introduced Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulation Part 107, which lifted stricter rules on the operation of non-hobby drones. Going forward, new regulations that help remove gray areas in the legality of operation – how, why, and where – will encourage wider adoption and limit liability concerns among potential end users.
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